shake

noun

1

: an act of shaking: such as

a

: an act of shaking hands

b

: an act of shaking oneself

2

a

: a blow or shock that upsets the equilibrium or disturbs the balance of something

b

: earthquake

3

shakes ˈshāks  plural

a

: a condition of trembling or nervousness

specifically : delirium tremens

b

: malaria sense 1a

4

: something produced by shaking: such as

a

: a fissure separating annual rings of growth in timber

b(1)

: milkshake

a chocolate shake

(2)

: a beverage resembling a milkshake

a protein shake

5

: a wavering, quivering, or alternating motion caused by a blow or shock

6

: trill

7

: a very brief period of time

I'll be there in two shakes.

8

shakes plural : one that is exceptional especially in importance, ability, or merit

—usually used in the phrase no great shakes

9

: a shingle split from a piece of log usually three or four feet (about one meter) long

10

: deal entry 2 sense 3

a fair shake

Synonyms of shake

• minute
• heartbeat
• second
• moment

Examples of shake in a Sentence

He responded to the question with a shake of his head.

Give the dice a shake.

He drank too much coffee and got a bad case of the shakes.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are also mini shakes at $2 and many items held over from Del Taco’s last version of its value menu, Del’s Real Deals, which was introduced in July 2024. —Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 11 June 2026

Following last week’s industrywide sell-off, the question is whether AI stocks are heading for a long downturn or just needed a shake-out to get rid of excessive optimism. —Stan Choe, Fortune, 9 June 2026

This story was updated to add earthquake shake map. —Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 8 June 2026

It was planted in good time, but mother nature decided to give the Scot’s thermometer a shake. —Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 5 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shake

• a fair shake
• fair shake
• gave him a fair shake
• get a fair shake
• milk shake
• more than someone can shake a stick at
• shake a leg
• shake a stick at
• shake down
• shake on
• shake one's head
• shake out
• shake-up
• wind shake

Rhymes for shake

• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake
• jake

Kids Definition

shake

1 of 2 verb

ˈshāk 

shook ˈshu̇k  ; shaken ˈshā-kən  ; shaking

1

: to move irregularly to and fro : quiver, tremble

shaking with cold

2

: to become unsteady : totter

3

: to cause to move in a usually quick jerky manner

4

: to free oneself from

shake off a cold

5

: to cause to become weaker

shake one's faith

6

: to force out of a place by quick jerky movements

shake dust from a blanket

7

: to clasp (hands) in greeting or as a sign of goodwill or agreement

shakable

ˈshā-kə-bəl

adjective

shake

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of shaking

2

plural : a condition of trembling (as from chill)

3

: something produced by shaking

especially : milk shake

4

: a very brief period of time

ready in two shakes

5

plural : one that stands out especially in importance, ability, or merit

—usually used in the phrase no great shakes

6

: a long shingle

7

: deal entry 3 sense 2

a fair shake